Oé-Cusse, 13 April 2026 – The Director of the PDHJ Territorial Delegation in Oé-Cusse, Bartolomeu Gonçalves, together with his team, conducted a working visit and coordination meeting with the Regional Directorate of Education and Social Solidarity, Vincêncio Cono at its office in Santa Rosa. The meeting aimed to assess measures taken by the authorities regarding infrastructure projects implemented between 2023 and 2025 using State funds, particularly those that have been abandoned by contractors or completed but remain unused for teaching and learning activities.
During the meeting, the PDHJ team presented findings from its field monitoring, highlighting concerns over several public assets that have not been effectively utilized despite significant State investment. PDHJ emphasized the need for responsible management of public resources and urged the relevant authorities to take concrete and timely measures to ensure that such infrastructure serves its intended purpose for the benefit of students and communities.
The Regional Director of Education and Social Solidarity, welcomed the data presented by PDHJ and acknowledged that similar information had already been identified internally. He noted that coordination efforts are ongoing with relevant entities, including the Regional Infrastructure Directorate, Regional Health Directorate, and school inspectors, to find appropriate solutions.
The Regional Director further explained that some school buildings, particularly those located far from communities, have not been used due to limited accessibility for students. As an interim measure, several of these facilities have been reassigned to the health sector for use as community health posts, aiming to improve access to basic health services. Additionally, there are considerations to temporarily use some unused school buildings as accommodation for newly recruited teachers from remote areas, in order to reduce their living costs.
PDHJ notes that while such temporary measures may respond to immediate needs, they also raise broader concerns regarding initial planning, site selection, and the effective use of public infrastructure. The institution reiterates the importance of proper needs assessments and planning processes to prevent inefficiencies and ensure that public investments deliver sustainable benefits in line with principles of good governance.
In a related matter, the Regional Director also expressed appreciation for PDHJ’s intervention in a case involving two students who were not authorized by their school to sit for the first-term examination at Baoknana Central Basic School. He assured that his office will follow up on the matter by verifying the facts and coordinating with the school superintendent and inspectors to ensure appropriate action is taken.
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